An offense that over eight seasons did what none before it had, averaging at least 25 points per game, had regressed to the point where last year it was a whisper of its former self. It was still trying the same stuff, but the results were such that it was unrecognizable.

Still trying the same stuff, it turns out, was a big part of the problem.

Now, Philip Rivers will tell you the Chargers offense is not all that different this year under Ken Whisenhunt from what it was under Norv Turner or Cam Cameron, and there is truth in that claim.

There are only so many routes that can be run, and Rivers has pretty much worked them all with Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd over the years and through the three different coordinators.

But through two games in 2013, as dynamism has returned to this Chargers attack, there is significant variance.

The Chargers have scored at least 28 points in back-to-back games for the first time since December 2011. This past Sunday in Philadelphia, they had more yards (539) than any Chargers team had in a game in 28 years. They have converted 58.6 percent of their third down tries, a league high and almost 20 percentage points higher than in 2012. Rivers has seven touchdowns to one interception and looks every bit as comfortable as those statistics would suggest.

And, really, it is that peace and easy flow that is most important.

That comfort is due to two things: pace and protection.

Those are, most certainly, different.

Where Turner’s offense required sustained protection as routes developed and almost never hurried, Whisenhunt has put Rivers in a position where the Chargers are moving quickly between plays and getting rid of the ball quickly during plays.

Rivers has been under pressure just 27.2 percent of the time he drops back to pass this season, according to Pro Football Focus. That ranks him as the fifth-least-harried QB in the NFL, quite a change from last season’s 38.2 percent, which was the third-most dropbacks under pressure.

Rivers has been hit just 16 times, including three sacks, through two games. That has him on pace to be hit about 30 times less (and sacked 25 times less) this year versus last.

Of course, that is dependent on this level of protection continuing. And this offense is designed to ensure it does.

This Chargers offensive line still has issues. Thing is, Whisenhunt isn’t waiting for Marcus McNeill and Kris Dielman to walk through the locker room door. He’s installed a system that puts maximum people in routes while minimizing the chances for Rivers to be harassed.

The way pace aids protection is not difficult to understand.

You can’t sack a quarterback who doesn’t have the ball, and Rivers has it less this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, the average elapsed time between Rivers taking a snap and his releasing the ball is 2.45 seconds – more than a third of a second faster than last year and almost a half-second faster than in 2011. That measure is a significant span when talking about how long a quarterback holds the ball.